Development and economic evaluation of a CPVT system with PHP cooling; An experimental study. (1st May 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shadmehri, Mehran; Abedanzadeh, Amir; Shafii, Mohammad Behshad; Ghasempour, Roghayeh; Mohsenzadeh, Milad
• Is Part Of: Energy conversion and management. Volume 283(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-05-01
• Subjects: Experimental analysis -- CPVT -- Closed-end PHP -- Parabolic trough concentrator -- Economic evaluation; Direct energy conversion -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Periodicals; Energy transfer -- Periodicals; Énergie -- Conversion directe -- Périodiques; Direct energy conversion; Periodicals; 621.3105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2023.116939
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0196-8904

Abstract

Highlights: A new CPVT model is provided using a photovoltaic module and pulsating heat pipe in its collector. Different HTFs including Glycerine, Ethylene Glycol, and Calcium Chloride water mixture experimentally tested. Enhancing heat pipe performance, a variety of working fluids were tested. The provided cooling system recycles 47.3% of the thermal energy, resulting in a 48.8% efficiency increase. Abstract: In this paper, the experimental investigation of the performance of a concentrated hybrid photovoltaic thermal solar system is sought. Accordingly, there is a parabolic trough concentrator receiver that consists of three components: a triangular duct, photovoltaic cells covering the duct, and a three-turn PHP. The PHP cools down the photovoltaic cells efficiently and regenerates waste heat. The duct is filled with a heat transfer fluid surrounding the PHP's evaporator. The condensation section of the PHP is located outside the solar concentrator. Using a one-axis polar mechanism, the concentrator tracks the sun from east to west. The system experiment setup was fabricated and tested outdoors in Tehran's climate. Different heat transfer fluids, including Glycerine, Ethylene Glycol, and Calcium Chloride water mixture, were tested. Given the enhancement of PHP performance, a variety of working fluids were tested, including graphene oxide nanofluid/water, acetone, and pure water. The experiments showed that graphene oxide nanofluid/water mixture provided the highest thermal performance. With the use of graphene oxide nanofluid/water (as a working fluid) and glycerine (as heat transfer fluid), experiment results showed a decrease of 7.84 °C in PV temperature and a consequent increase of 21.85% in electrical efficiency in best condition. Furthermore, the provided cooling system recycles a maximum of is 190.4 kJ of thermal energy equivalent 52.5% thermal efficiency, increasing overall efficiency by 74.35%. Lastly, the IRR of 65.41%, PBT of 1.04 years, and LCOE of 1.84 $/kWh demonstrate appropriate financial profitability.